Thanks for the good advice. I think setting limits with any doctor is a good idea when you do not want to be pushed towards any particular elective treatment.
posted
I would suggest that you get a new doctor - preferably a RE. Schedule a consultation and during that first meeting be very clear that you do NOT want to discuss IVF until you exhaust all other options. I did this with my RE and she respected my position and never mentioned IVF until I brought it up. If, despite being clear, the doctor still pushes IVF then go to someone else. Keep going until you find a doctor that is going to support your wishes. I think that was the key factor in us getting through 22 months of TTC and 5 losses. We eventually went on to get pregnant without IVF or IUI (HSG confirmed both my tubes were open and I had reasonably good length). My RE was essential to our success. I can't stress enough how much having a supportive doctor can make a difference. Good luck!
I am on almost all of the supplements listed below - its good even if you aren't TTC and will keep you healthy through flu season. You can't lose - many girls report a longer LP with Vit B Complex, Vitex, and Fish Oil.
I also drink a female hormone tea and red raspberry leaf tea. If you have some kind of nutritional imbalance your body may respond poorly to conception.
You can also tale L-Arginine for circulation and wild yam root AFTER OVULATION!! (if you take this before it can prevent O, but it boosts your progesterone level).
But, the biggest thing you can do for yourself is eliminate stress. Get accumpuncture, take yoga, read a good book, and GET A NEW DOCTOR if this one is pushing IVF and making you uncomfortable. its a buyers market out there and you deserve to be treated with respect. 35 is NOT old, you'll be fine. However, a 10 day LP could be causing you problems and the solution may be as simple as progesterone suppositories (Rx needed). Look around and a get a new RE if this one doesn't work out.
Best of luck! Meridith
PS - avoid OTC painkillers like ibuprophen and tylenol - they can cause you to not ovulate as well
posted
The clomid challenge test is a way to check for egg reserve. It is mostly unnecessary in women under the age of 40. Most women have good quality eggs under the age of 40.
It is true the ability to become pregnant starts to decline after the age of 35; however, the decline is slow. The decline becomes more rapid after the age of 40 and then really increases after the age of 43. We have seen good pregnancy rates among our patients up to the age of 43.
If you are having consistent, regular periods then you are ovulating and would probably not benefit from clomid.
We recommend HSGs one year after surgery if unable to become pregnant. Why? It may take that long- especially if there are other factors present, but also because HSGs can be inaccurate. We have had many patients have an HSG which shows tubal closure and they then go on to become pregnant.
If there are other factors then seeing an RE may be more helpful. They may talk to you about IVF but they may also talk to you about intrauterine insemination (IUI). If there is no pressure, we would recommend trying for a year and if no success then have an HSG. If the HSG shows the tubes are open then you can consider trying longer or IUI.
posted
lol caroljean! And I'll chime in with, 'if you've got one foot in the grave, then I'm flat out on my back in my best clothes'...lol! 35 is just a baby, so don't let anyone tell you you're too old for this.
I'm VERY sorry for this treatment. It seems so many wish to discourage procreation because they have their own views on it. That's my take.
Anyway, I don't know too much about Clomid, but I do know about some ways to naturally induce ovulation, and promote longer LP.
I know many think that herbs and stuff are "quack" because they feel more comfortable with prescriptions, but I'm the other way around. I will list out what I would personally take to give myself a couple of months with BEFORE starting Clomid. It's always up to you, everyone responds differently, and I'm not a doc..however, if you sought out a doc and they were not helpful, then whatcha gonna do? You tried!
Always consider seeking the advice of an experienced midwife or naturopath. They LOVE to work with the body to make it function better for you.
Here's the regimen I recommend..Oh, I have studied herbs and natural medicine for years..it saved my life and has made me fertile despite chemo.
-EPO 1-3 times per day. You can start with 1 and increase if it doesn't upset your belly. Take from CD1 to O.
-Either FertilAid or Chasteberry/Vitex supplement as recommended on the label.
-Good multi-vitamin or prenatal-you and DH
-Super B complex-you and DH
-Zinc (no more than 50 mg per day, including what's in your multi) for you and DH
-1000mg Fish oil for you from O to AF or BFP then continue with BFP and DH
-1000mg vitamin C both you and DH
-81 mg of aspirin per day for good cardiovascular health for both you and dh unless contraindicated
This seems like a lot, but it isn't. It fits nicely in a weekly pill dispenser. I also recommend for women especially, but even men, drinking a cup or two of green tea per day. You can also supplement with red raspberry leaf tea..not red raspberry tea, but raspberry leaf tea. VERY good for conception and the uterus and tubes.
I HTH if you decide to try it. I believe 100% in this combination to help produce excellent overall health and promote fertility.
God Bless and I'm sorry again for the treatment you had.
posted
The clomid challenge test is done during one cycle only. You are tested at CD 3, then start 100 mg clomid then tested again with b/w and u/s after you finish the medication. You also have progesterone b/w at 7 DPO to confirm ovulation. If you ovulate on the clomid, show viable follicles by u/s and your FSH levels are reasonable and represent fertility, then they may continue another 3 months of clomid.
posted
praybelieving, I'm sorry you got treated that way. Some doctors are so dismissive, like we are crazy to want to try to have another baby. The clomid challenge test is a good idea though, especially if you haven't had any FSH testing before. And yes, you can TTC during that cycle. In fact the challenge test is better than just starting clomid because it will give you an indication of how many follicles you produce with followup u/s and then b/w post "O". I hope it works well for you can you get good test results. Another thing you can try is progesterone cream. Usually ladies have shorter LP due to progesterone deficiency and sometimes using the progesterone cream starting at 2 DPO, twice a day can be enough to extend it a couple extra days. It is available in the vitamin and natural supplements aisle at walmart for $12. And if you are ancient at 35, I must have one foot in the ground at 42! LOL....good luck!
posted
praybelieving, you are still quite young if you are unhappy with the way things turned out i would check in with a diffrent obgyn, alot of DR.'s push ivf and invetro becouse they make money off of it. Dr. B even will tell you a couple activly trying can try up to 12 months b4 they get there BFP. dont give up hope and dont settle for what the obgyn says unless you are happy with that. I dont understand why she would tell you no on the clomid challenge do you have issues with cyst's or over stimulation that wold be the only reason i would think that the answer would be no. however if you want the clomid challenge i would insist to try it 4-6 months b4 i agreed to ny thing else. there are alot of Dr.'s who will work with you and this one sounds like a pusher of ivf so i think i would look into a diffrent one just cause the fact i have seen alot of girls on here over the past few years that have gone through this same thing and recived there BFP only to have issues with betas and draws. best of luck, rosemary
posted
I finally went to the gyn to talk about my situation (new doctor for me). This is the run down...
She didn't seem too positive about the TR. I had mine 7/31 and she was already talking about having an HSG to see if my tubes are open. I felt like I was ancient (35) as she talked to me about my age and how rapidly fertility declines at age 35.
I told her that I've temped and used OPKs for about 5 months now and that my LP is continuously 10 days...I ovulate about day 16 to 18 and have a 10 day LP to make 26-28 day cycles. She didn't care about that at all. So, I outright asked for clomid since I know many docs give clomid for this reason, plus I had great success with it years ago when I wasn't ovulating correctly. She said no and ordered a clomid challenge test instead. Now, I'm thrilled to have hormone testing...don't get me wrong! [I've never had an FSH, but in June, we talked to an RE before the TR and he did an Inibition B to check my egg reserve...this doc said it was a better indicator??...anyway, I don't remember the number, but he said it was great]...
My question is...why didn't I have this clomid challenge test before the TR? She scared me into thinking I'm not even fertile at all. She said she'd probably refer me to an RE. That worries me, of course, b/c so many of them have their IVF agendas.
So, I'm coming up on 4 months post TR...was hoping for something to correct my short LP and get a grim outlook. Can you tell me again, the ones of you who know, the "natural" thing to take to help LP and fertility? Also, can't dh and I "try" to get pregnant next cycle when we do the clomid test?
Thanks for any suggestions. Interesting sidenote: the practice I went to was Dr. M's former practice before joining Dr. B. Seems they would be more hopeful and proactive in helping TR patients.
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